Whirligig toy



April 19, 1932. A Z E 1,854,876

WHIRLIGIG TOY Filed Oct. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTg? Angelo naaLono BY w ATTORNEY April 19, 1932. A. ANZALONE WHIRLIGIG TOY Filed Oct. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hr: eZo fln alorzofills ATTORNE Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES ANGELO- ANZALONE, or ROCHESTER, Yoi'ti:

wnmmere 'roY Application filed October 17, m1. SriaI ms. 569,497.

My present invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to toys of the kind manipulated by the hands to produce an interesting mechanical effect, and it has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive toy of this nature on the principle of the Whirligig but with new features, adding to the interest in observing its operation.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a Whirligig constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention in a simple form;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of the invention, and

. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44: of Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, my improved toy comprises a central body or disk 1 having a circumferential groove 2 furnishing a central winding drum 3 of smaller diameter. The usual pair of twist cords 4 extend through the central body in a generally axial direction but on opposite sides of the center and terminate in rings 5,

through which the fingers of the player are thrust. Upon first rotating the central body 1 by hand in either direction to twist the cords 4: and then pulling upon the rings 5, the central body 1 will, of course, rotate in one direction. Releasing the tension of the rings momentarily causes the central body 1, by its momentum, to twist the cords 4 in the opposite direction, whereby renewal of the axial tension again rotates the central body.

The end 6 of a flexible cord 7 is fastened to the drum 3 and suspended thereby is a weight 8 preferably in the form of a ball that may be of wood, rubber or other suitable material. With the gyrations of the central body 1, it

will be seen that the cord 7 will alternately wind upon and unwind from the drum 3, raising and lowering the weight or ball 8 with amusing effect. Furthermore, in the use of the device, when the player becomes skillful,

the weight 8 may be revolved or swung in a circle between the players arms while the rings 5 are appropriately manipulated so that the ball may be caused to repeatedly rise or to repeatedly fall. In other words, by

swinging the ball or weight about, it may be a positely wound upon the central drums 3 Vith this arrangement, which is designed for simpler operations or manipulations, the

effect is merely that one ball or weight rises as the other falls.

Of course, the weights 8 and 8 may be of any desired spectacular form or color to add to the interest and to the amusing effect.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a Whirligig toy, the combination with a central body member and flexible means extending in a generally axial direction relatively thereto for rotating the same alternately in reverse directions, said means constituting the sole support for the body member, of a weight, and a flexible cord by which the weight is suspended from the body member, said cord being adapted to wind upon the body member and unwind therefrom, alternately, with the winding and unwinding movements of the body member.

2. In a Whirligig toy, the combination with a central body member having a peripheral groove and flexible means extending in a generally axial direction relatively thereto for rotating the same alternately in reverse directions, said means constituting the sole support for the body member, of a Weight, and a flexible cord secured in the groove and by which the weight is suspended from the body member, said cord being adapted to wind upon the latter in the groove and unwind therefrom, alternately, with the winding and unwinding movements of the body member.

3. In a Whirligig toy, the combination with a body member having a pair of peripheral grooves and means extending in a generally axial direction relatively thereto for rotating the same alternately in reverse directions, of a pair of weight, and a flexible cord secured in each groove and by which each weight is suspended from the body member, the cords being adapted to wind in the grooves and'unwind therefrom, alternately, so that one weight is raised while the other is lowered with the winding and unwinding movements, respectively, of the body member.

ANGELO ANZALONE. 

